Have you been fortunate enough to visit Vancouver Island's famed old-growth forests? If you've experienced even just a few of these special places, then you know that the old-growth forests of Vancouver Island are among the most spectacular landscapes to be found anywhere on Earth. Read this report and get informed how you can help in protecting these wonderful wild lands.

Vancouver Island - Protecting Paradise

Wilderness Committee Educational Report Vol.26 - No.01, Spring 2007

A gorgeous emerald pool in the Upper Walbran Valley, filled with young trout.

Old-growth deciduous rainforests, including this moss-draped broadleaf maple near Cowichan Lake, are found largely on private lands. Many are in grave danger of being logged. The BC Government must set-up a province-wide fund to purchase private forest lands for protection.

Keeping score on Vancouver Island

How much remains on Vancouver Island:

  • 73% of its original productive old-growth forests have already been logged.
  • 90% of the productive old-growth forests on low, flat terrain (ie. less than 300 meters above sea level, with slopes less than 17%), such as valley bottoms where the biggest trees typically grow, have been logged.
  • 99% of the old-growth forests in the Coastal Douglas-fir zone on the east side of Vancouver Island have been logged.
  • 87% of the productive old-growth forests on the South Island (south of Barkley Sound/Horne Lake) have been logged.

    • How much of Vancouver Island is protected in parks:

  • 13% of its total land area is protected in parks.
  • 6% of its productive forests (old-growth and second-growth) are protected in parks.
  • Less than 1% of its original old-growth Coastal Douglas-fir forest is protected in parks.
  • Within its parks, 65% of the land consists of alpine tundra, low productivity forests (bogs, scrub forests and high altitude forests), and previously logged forests.
  • 35% of land within its parks are productive old-growth forests.

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